I was a proponent of the F-35… I believe for the mission set and the fact that we integrate our defense with the United States that it was probably the best option. However, considering the current turn of affairs and the gigantic cost bumps, I think we should move off to something different. If we could bring industry for these planes to our own country, I wonder now if the Gripen would not be our best choice.
I do have to raise concerns about the timeline on that, but I 100% agree with bringing this stuff home and looking at the European options until we can come our own avro arrow again.
I love the idea of us making something domestically. I wonder if inside of a decade we could have either the chops or the budget to do so without a foreign partnership. Whatever it is, it would need to be saleable. I’d be looking at the UK, or Sweden again.
That’s just part of making F35s. Behind schedule. Over budget. And once finished if they don’t immediately fall out of the sky you got a pretty damn good luck roll.
